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What is inside the bones and their functions?
The bones act as the foundation of the animal’s body and help make all of the mechanisms of the body perform properly. The human body consists of 206 bones. However, babies are born with 300 bones, which fuse to form the larger bones in the skeletal system.
Structurally the whole skeletal system of the human body consists of two types of bones, these are.
Dense and hard bones:
The dense bones found in our skeletal system are known as Cortical bone. Cortical bones make up to 80% of the skeletal system. They are heavy, tough, and compact. They are composed of osteons and form the shaft or diaphysis of long bones.
Soft and spongy bones:
The soft and spongy bones in our skeletal system are called Cancellous bones. Cancellous bones make up to 20% of the skeletal system. They are light, spongy, and soft. They are composed of trabeculae and form the ends or epiphyses of long bones.
Classification Of Bones
Based on shape, bones are classified into five types that include:
- Long bones
- Short bones
- Flat bones
- Sesamoid bones
- Irregular bones
Long bone: Long bones are usually located in the appendicular skeleton and include bones in the lower limbs, such as the humerus, radius, ulna, metacarpals, and phalanges. The function of these bones is to provide support and facilitate movement of the body.
Short bones: Short bones are located in the wrist and ankle joints and include bones of carpals in the wrist such as scaphoid, lunate, triquetral, hamate, pisiform, capitate, trapezoid, and trapezium. It consists of bones of tarsals in the ankles, such as calcaneus, talus, navicular, cuboid, lateral cuneiform, intermediate cuneiform, and medial cuneiform. The function of these bones is to provide stability and movement.
Flat bones: Flat bones are thin and flattened in shape and are located in the skull region, scapula, sternum, ribs, pelvis, scapula, and clavicle. The function of these bones is to provide protection and serve as points of attachment for muscles.
Sesamoid bones: Sesamoid bones are in the tendons of hands, knees, and feet. The function of these bones is to protect tendons from stress and wear.
Irregular bones: Irregular bones are complex in shape, therefore they do not fit into any other bone category such as flat, short, long, or sesamoid. These bones include pelvis bones such as pubis, ilium, and ischium. The function of these bones is to protect the organs of the pelvic cavity.
The internal structure of bones is not so simple and consists of several components that contribute to their specific function. Based on these complex components it is divided into the following:
A. Bone Tissue: It consists of the following two
- Compact Bone: Made up of a tightly packed mineralized matrix due to which the bones appear hard and rigid.
2. Spongy Bone: Made up of trabeculae, which help provide structural support and allow space for red bone marrow.
B. Bone Marrow: It is a semi-solid tissue, found within the spongy portions of bones. It comprises hematopoietic cells, marrow adipose tissue, and supportive stromal cells. Its main function involves the production of new blood cells and the replacement of damaged and worn-out cells.
C. Blood Vessels: Blood vessels are hollow tubes like pipes that carry blood to and from all parts of the body. These vessels carry blood from the heart to all other parts and vice-versa. Other than carrying blood, it also plays a vital role in the gaseous exchange and also helps maintain a constant internal temperature of an organism.
D. Bone cells: It consists of the following three:
- Osteocytes: Osteocytes are mature cells formed from osteoblasts that play a vital role in bone maintenance and are located in bone lacunae.
2. Osteoblasts: Osteoblasts are formed from osteoprogenitor stem cells and play a vital role in bone development. They are located in the bone’s outer surface.
3. Bone matrix: the bone matrix is the hard and non-pliable intercellular substance of the bone that forms most of the mass of the bone.
Conclusion:
The skeletal system of the human body comprises various types of bones depending upon their shape, structure, components, and functions. Though their function and composition vary a lot their overall role is to provide support, and protection and to ensure that the body functions properly.
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